The Dodge Caliber was never highly regarded by the UK's motoring press, and while it was never especially competitive in the new car market, this Focus rival can make a lot more sense as a used buy. Well equipped and spacious, the Caliber is good value but not that refined or competitive dynamically. The big question mark is over its durability; many owners have found that mechanical parts need to be replaced way before they'd expect, so if you're a high-mileage driver, you might find investing in a cheap Caliber is a false economy.

Key Dates

4/06: The Caliber reaches UK showrooms with 1.8 petrol or 2.0 Volkswagen turbodiesel engines. There are S, SE, SXT and SXT Sport trim levels for each powerplant, with even the entry-level cars coming with decent equipment levels.

9/09: A facelifted Caliber is unveiled in the US, with a 2.2 diesel engine and upgraded interior. It's meant to come to the UK, but the car is canned before the revised car gets here.

Checklist

Check there's no slip in the clutch, as premature wear isn't unusual.

The front suspension can also wear quickly, so make sure the dampers aren't shot.

Brake discs don't last long either, while pads can also wear quickly.

The windows can squeak as they go up and down; permanent fixes tend to prove elusive.

The electrics and electronics can be temperamental, with dealers seemingly unable to fix some faults.

If replacement parts are needed, they can take a while to arrive now Dodge is defunct in the UK.